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Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you,because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.(Exodus 33:3) Knowing the extreme planning that goes into a trip to Disney "Promised Land" World these daysnot to mention the costwhat's a parent to do if their children do something off the charts horrible in the weeks leading...
Keep Reading"Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way."(Exodus 33:3) A land "flowing with milk and honey" likely sounded pretty dreamy to the Israelites after walking through the desert for 40 years. But how satisfying would it be without the Lord accompanying them? I'd imagine ...
Keep ReadingAnd the Lord said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory." And the Lord said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on wh...
Keep Reading"And the Lord said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." (Exodus 33: 19) In this chapter of Exodus, Moses is speaking directly with God. He's walking with God. He's even, on behalf of all God's ...
Keep ReadingIf your Presence does not go with us, do not send us from here. And now, Lord, show me Your glory.(Ex. 33:15,18) Moses has heard God call him from a burning bush, give him specific directions for shepherding His people out of Egypt, direct the miracles that led to the people's release, and chisel the Commandments in his very presence. Verse after verse notes what Moses "s...
Keep ReadingAnd she made a vow, saying, "Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head" (1 Samuel 1:11). When we sit down as a family to eat, we always say the same blessing. Dear God, Thank you fo...
Keep ReadingIn her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, "Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his lifeThen she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast (I Samuel 1:10-1...
Keep ReadingIn her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly (1 Samuel 1:10). "God, if you do this one thing for me, I promise I will __________." Have you ever prayed a prayer like that? I have. When I was a teenager, I remember bargaining with God in this way. I was desperate. I knew He was the One who could fix my problem. Although, if I am honest, I hadn't though...
Keep Reading1 Samuel 1 2 On a warm summer day, a woman is walking downtown around lunchtime. There is a slight breeze, she can hear the birds chirping, and she can smell the freshly baked donuts about a block away. She thinks about how hungry she is and how a freshly baked donut would fill her empty stomach. She decides that she is going to get that donut, no matter what, so she kee...
Keep Reading"Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"(1 Samuel 1:8) Have you ever prayed for something, prayed for years, hungering for God to answer? Was it something that would bring you happiness or erase your shame (or maybe both)? Was it something that consumed all your bandwidth? It's what you thought about when you couldn't go to sleep, what you prayed about unceasingly, what ...
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